Blog: World Immunisation Week 2022 - The Path to Progress for Immunisation

By Neil Raw, Senior Policy Advisor – Child Health

In 2021, nearly half of all children born in the Philippines did not receive any vaccines at all. Similarly, health systems in Ethiopia are struggling to maintain routine immunisation services amidst the equally urgent need to increase COVID-19 vaccine coverage. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and as well as escalating conflicts around the world are preventing children from realising their right to health in many countries. Despite these unprecedented challenges, the global community have a once in generation opportunity to protect children’s futures through transforming the approach to health and immunisation systems strengthening.   

Immunisation remains one of the most successful global public health interventions, saving up to three million lives each year. It’s also a crucial entry point to the health system for millions of children  in low- and lower-middle income countries, meaning children receiving vaccinations can also be reached with services for nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene and malaria prevention– all of which contribute to ending preventable child deaths.  

However, disruptions to routine immunisation services are putting children’s futures at risk.  

With measles cases having increased 79% in the months of January and February 2022 compared to the same months last year, millions of children are at risk from this highly contagious yet preventable disease. Measles can be fatal, and weakens the immune system leaving affected children vulnerable to other infectious diseases such a diarrhea and pneumonia. The rise in measles cases among children around the world is a consequence of decreased routine immunisation coverage because of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to COVID-19, conflict has also significantly impeded routine immunisation services in Ukraine, Somalia and Afghanistan.  For example, in last 12 months, Somalia and Afghanistan have each seen over 3600 measles cases.   

The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the importance of vaccination as a global public health tool, but also highlighted the disparities in access and the need to urgently strengthen immunisation services in countries around the world.  

Alongside disruptions to routine immunisation, disparities in access to COVID-19 vaccines persist with just 15% of people in low-income countries having received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  The response to the COVID-19 pandemic offers a once in generation opportunity to strengthen immunisation systems and increase access to essential vaccines for every child. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic must be a catalytic moment for health and immunisation systems strengthening. This will serve to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccines and tools needed to end the pandemic and increase uptake of vital primary health care services, including routine immunisation.  

The UK Government, along with other donors, have supported 760 million children to be immunised since 2000, saving up 13 million lives. As a leading donor, and influential stakeholder at key global health and political platforms, the UK is uniquely placed to take the urgent steps necessary to restore and increase uptake of routine immunisation services for children. This includes championing stronger health systems, resourcing the international COVID-19 response and supporting low- and lower-middle income countries.   

The next opportunity for urgent and decisive action presents itself in two weeks’ time, on May 12th, when world leaders will convene for the second Global COVID-19 Summit. Fully and independently financing the international COVID-19 response (to ensure resources for COVID-19 vaccination are not diverted away from routine immunisation services), and in particular the delivery costs of COVID-19 vaccinations, will be imperative to both ending the pandemic and ensuring that vital resources for essential health services are not repurposed away to the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.  

Despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and conflict there is an urgent need to protect, restore and increase uptake of essential routine immunisation services for children and protect children’s futures.   

Read the latest report from the UK Committee for UNICEF: Path to Progress: Immunisation Beyond COVID-19